* According to Variety, the Weinstein Co. picked up the U.S. and German rights to “A Single Man,” starring Colin Firth. Tom Ford is directing the movie, which is adapted from the Christopher Isherwood novel.

* Director Sam Mendes told Empire that his movie of the comic book character “Preacher” is “getting closer.”

* Peter Berg will direct a movie based on Hasbro’s board game “Battleship.” Universal has set the release date for July 1, 2011.

* Tomas Alfredson, director of “Let the Right One In,” will direct Nicole Kidman in “The Danish Girl,” based on a the story of Einar Wegener. In 1931, Wegener became the first person to undergo a sex change operation.

* Jeffrey Dean Morgan told Superhero Hype that he would be interested in playing Lobo in the upcoming movie based on the DC Comics character. “Lobo” will be directed by Guy Ritchie.

* Blockbuster is looking at closing 960 of its 4,400 stores in the United States. The move would save Blockbuster $30 million annually, according to a regulatory filing by the video rental business.